Couples hoping to tie the knot on the most romantic day of the calendar had the opportunity Wednesday to be married on Valentine's Day.
On Wednesday, the San Diego County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk (ARCC) issued 129 marriage licenses and performed 101 wedding ceremonies over its four offices.
Valentine's Day is traditionally one of the most sought-after wedding days for the ARCC offices throughout the county. In 2014, the office set a county record, issuing 266 licenses and performing 242 ceremonies.
"Commitment is essentially what this means," said Aaron Peasley, who married Kirestyn Barnhart on Feb. 14, 2024. "Not only obviously on paper but now solidifying the relationship that it's been for five years now and continuing to grow."
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The newlyweds are planning to have a larger wedding ceremony but busy life and a recent move to San Diego has made it challenging. They thought the county's offer for Valentine's Day ceremonies was the perfect answer.
"You have to do it on a weekday anyway so you might as well pick a special day and make it more memorable," Barnhart said, dressed in a white off-the-shoulder dress perfect for the occasion.
As a special nod to couples looking to enter matrimony, the Larry Himmel Neighborhood Foundation covered the costs for the first 20 weddings at the County Administration Center. The initiative included payment for marriage licenses and associated fees.
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"My dad loved Valentine's Day and always looked for ways to spread joy on this special day," said Miles Himmel, founder of the Larry Himmel Neighborhood Foundation.
Jordan Marks, the county assessor-recorder-county clerk, also serves as county commissioner of civil marriages. The ARCC has five offices around the county, and is responsible for issuing marriage licenses, birth and death certificates, as well as registering business names and recording all legal real estate documents.
On average, the office provides nearly 25,000 marriage licenses and performs more than 11,000 weddings annually. Nearly half of customers who request a marriage license also hold their wedding ceremonies at the Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk's office.
